Direction-signal



D. I. GRIFFITHS. DIRECTION SIGNAL. APPL|CAI'ION mu) nov. 24. 1919.

1 3548, 7 1 6. Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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, DIRECTION SIGNAL. APPLICATIONYFILED ov. 24. 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented 3, 1920.

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DAVID I. GRIFFITHS, 0F FROSTBURG, MARYLAND.

DIRECTION-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 340,355.

To all whom it may concern Be' it known that 1, DAVID I. GRIFFITHS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Frostburg, in the county of Allegany and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present sole invention is the provisior of a simple, easily operated and efficient direction signal, and one that is adapted to be carried in laterally extended position on an automobile body, and in which the parts are so constructed and arranged that when it is necessary to move the signal through a narrow doorway, the signal may be swun parallel to and'close against the sides of t e body.

To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in' the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof:

Figure 1 is a transverse section taken througha portion of an automobile and 'my novel signal, and showing the latter in working position.

Fig. 2 is a view taken in a plane above the signal, and showing the signal in plan as swung to the idle position.

. Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane indicated by the line 33, of Fig. 1, and showing the interior construction of the casing of the signal.

Fig. 4 is a section takenin the plane indicated by the line F t of Fig. 1, and showing the driving connection.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrative of the hinged connection between the casing support of the signal and the bracket arm on the automobile body.

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged view showing the hinged connection of the members of the operating shaft.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing in regular sequence the eight signs that will be carried on the rotary cylinder that is of octagonal form in cross-section.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in .all of the views of the drawings.

In furtherance of my invention, the automobile body 1 is provided with a lateral bracket 2, and in the wall of said body is formed a transverse aperture 3. Said aperture 3 is for the passage of the inner section 4 of a. sign-operating shaft which also comprises an outer section 5 hinged at 6 to and adapted to swing horizontally from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the idle position shown in Fig. 2, and vice versa. At its end remote from the hinged connection 6, the shaft section 5 is provided with a pinion 7.

The bracket 2 is provided with knuckles 8, and to the said knuckles 8 are connected in hinged manner complementary knuckles 9 at the end of the straight portion 10 of a support, which-comprises, in addition to the straight portion 10, a curvilinear portion 11. The support portion 10 is equipped with a standard 12 that is arranged adjacent to the inner end of the portion 11, as shown.

Superimposed upon and bolted to the support portion 11, is a casing 13 in which are front and rear openings 14 for the display of the signs.

Revoluble about its axis in and arranged longitudinally of the casing 13 is a signhearing body 15, of octagonal form in crosssection, as appears in Fig. 3. At one end, said body 15 has a trunnion 16 journaled in a bearing 17 carried at the inner side of the outer end of the casing. At its opposite and inner end the revoluble body 15 is provided with a trunnion 18 that extends loosely through an opening in the inner end of the casing 13, and is journaled in the standard 12 and is equipped with a spur gear 19, intermeshed with the before-mentioned pinion 7. From this it follows that rotation or turning ofthe handle 20 on the shaft section 4 will be attended by rotation of the body 15 about its axis.

My invention contemplates the provision of signs at the eight sides of the body 15, and the signs per 86 may be of any desired type without affecting my invention. In the I present arrangement I prefer toempaloy on the body 15 two signs reading. ight, arranged to be simultaneously displayed through the front and rear openings 1 1 of the casing 13; two signs- Left, arranged to be simultaneously displayed through said openings; two signs Red to be similarly displayed, and two signs Seeing II. S. A. for similar double display; the Red signs being indicative of danger, and the Seeing U; S. A. signs indicating that the car is proceeding without intention of stoppingor turning. The Right and Left signs indicate what they import, and it will here be noted that all of the signs of my improvement are displayed to equal advantage to persons in front as well as persons in rear of the automobile equipped with the signs.

For the purpose of illuminating the signs in the night-time, incandescent lamps 30 are arranged in the casing 13. and wires 31 connected to the filament of said lamp are ca'r'ied through the inner end portion of .tie opening in the casing 13 to be electrically connected with a source of electrical energy carried by the automobile.

An important advantage of my invention resides in the considerable lateral extension of the direction signal from the side of the automobile body, and in the provision made for the swinging of the si nal to a position close against the side 0? the automobile body, as when it is necessary to pass the automobile through a narrow doorway.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

The com ination in a direction signal of 1o Sldt all of an automobile body, said wall having a transverse opening therein, a bracket 0n the outer side of said wall below said opening and having a knuckle, a support having a knuckle connected in hinged manner to the knuckle of the bracket, a casing superimposed upon and connected to said support and having front and rear openings, a rotatable sign-bearing body journaled in the casing and having a trunnion extended through the inner end of the casing and journaled inthe support and equipped with a spur gear, a shaft section extended through the opening in the wall of the automobile body, and a shaft section connected by a hinge with the first-named shaft section and having a pinion intermeshed with saidspur gear, the pintle of said hinge being disposed in vertical alinement with the pintle connecting said knuckles.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

DAVID I. GRIFFITHS. 

